And more people are poor because progressive policies, especially in the last 8 years, are killing the economy. People depressed by the inability to provide for their own lives turn to drugs, alcohol, and junk food.

Part of the increased cost of a dentist visit is that the visit is no longer the same. In the 1970s, dental technicians weren't wearing masks and gloves that they discarded a dozen times a day. There wasn't an x-ray machine that circled your head, nor computerized imaging and record-keeping systems. Nor did the typical dentist's office require 3 secretaries to do billing and keep records straight for government requirements.

>>> all available information
Available to whom? From whom? At what cost?
All available information on aspirin is more than a person could read in a lifetime.

The claim that a certain quantity and quality of information is necessary for capitalism to work is a trap that the enemies of capitalism have been advancing for centuries. It is a straw man with no basis in fact.

Biggest debt holders:
Social Security 2.786 trillion ___________ this is bogus, because it's internal to the federal government
Federal Reserve 2.461 trillion ___________ this is bogus because it's internal to the federal government
China 1.157 trillion
Japan 1.136 trillion
Mutual funds: 1.056 trillion
Office of Personnel Management Retirement 0.873 trillion __________ this is bogus because it's internal to the federal government
State and local gov'ts 0.803 trillion
Military Retirement 0.601 trillion _________ this is bogus because it's internal to the federal government
Banks 0.515 trillion
Private pension funds 0.403 trillion
Ireland 0.270 trillion
Medicare 0.267 trillion _________ this is bogus because it's internal to the federal government

China's government is the largest single entity holding US debt that is not a part of the federal government

Money in a mattress or money used for fractional reserve isn't helping the economy. Most of the money in banks is loaned out to homeowners, businesses, and governments. Only the government portion is not helping the economy.

The particular things and actions that are taxed does matter. High business taxes cause more damage than some other forms of taxes.

What we don't need are "transfer payments" that discourage production like forced long term unemployment insurance ( one way Obama made the recession longer and deeper), welfare, food stamps, medicare/medicaid, etc. Cut those programs and the corporate and personal income taxes won't need to be so high.